Open Final
Gabriel Chak bt. Alan Taffinder 3-1
We have been really lucky the last few years to watch these two play each other.
This is their 3rd consecutive final now and every time they deliver a real treat. Both players move so effortlessly and pick so much up, and both love to take the ball early and hunt the volley.
Alan played fantastically well in the second game to make it one-all, but Gabriel stepped right up the court after that, giving Alan very little time to settle and taking the drops in regularly making the court very long.
A brilliant final. Well played both!
Ladies Final
Brieanna Burki bt. Esther Chak 3-2
Like the Open final, this is the 3rd consecutive final now between these two. They had both won one each of those going into this and both were in fantastic form.
Brieanna volleys fantastically well and she is adding more and more deception into her game making her very hard to read. Esther moves so easily around the court and picks so much up, and her kills and counter drops are always very effective.
It was a real battle across the first four games for who could get in front of the other and attack first as both were very clinical with their opportunities. At two-all it looked like anyone could take it, but it was Brieanna in the fifth game who got off to a great start, coming out very aggressively and hitting winner after winner and taking her second title.
Doubles Final
Phil Coleman/Alan Taffinder bt. Gabriel Chak/Esther Chak 3-0
This would be the first time in several years that Alan and Phil would reunite to play together again, having won the title a number of times previously. Alan, Gabriel and Esther had the unenviable task of having to play after around an hour on court already and with some very tired legs. And with the even less enviable task of marking a doubles final (incredibly complicated to work out who’s serving and where from and staying on top of the order) was James Dubois, who did a fantastic job!
From quite early on it was clear to see the fatigue in the 3 players who had already played finals, but the experience (and fresh legs) of Phil looked to be the big difference. He took his opportunities well when presented and crafted good patterns of play, working one player put of position and then capitalising on open spaces left for him. In particular, his counter dropping in the front corners was particularly nice to watch.
Vets Final
Racketball Final
James Kenneavy bt. Luke Edgcumbe 3-0
Now unfortunately I wasn’t able to see this match as it had to be played on a different evening. I’m told however it was a very strong performance from Jay and he didn’t give Luke much opportunity to settle or work his way into the match. Well done on the 2 titles this year Jay!
Plate Final
Bharath Somineni bt. Finnley Kenneavy 3-2
Two of our up and coming juniors contested this final and both know each other well having trained together now for a few years. Both also play together on the third team as well as representing Sutton in the London Youth Games the last 3 seasons.
It was an incredibly physical game. Bharath loves to take the ball in short and probably hits more short work than length, which while risky can be quite horrible to play against.
Finnley fortunately is very fit and quick and was up to the task of picking up a lot of balls. Finnley managed to come back from two-love down to take it into a deciding fifth game, but unfortunately didn’t quite have the legs to take the final game.
A great final though!
